{"id":2560,"date":"2014-04-29T11:52:04","date_gmt":"2014-04-29T11:52:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jeanlambertmep.org.uk\/?p=2560"},"modified":"2014-05-07T09:55:20","modified_gmt":"2014-05-07T09:55:20","slug":"high-speed-rail-will-destroy-london-communities-scrapped-mep","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jeanlambertmep.org.uk\/2014\/04\/29\/high-speed-rail-will-destroy-london-communities-scrapped-mep\/","title":{"rendered":"‘High-speed rail will destroy London communities \u2013 and should be scrapped’ – MEP"},"content":{"rendered":"

Plans to build high speed rail link from London to the Midlands are a costly diversion from providing decent public transport services for Londoners, and they will destroy community facilities, homes \u2013 and the environment, according to London’s Green MEP Jean Lambert.<\/p>\n

As MPs debated whether to go ahead with the \u00a342.6bn plans today, Ms Lambert, calling the scheme a ‘white elephant’ – said HS2 should be scrapped.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere’s no business case for HS2 \u2013 and no environmental case,\u201d she said, speaking to demonstrators outside the Houses of Parliament.<\/p>\n

\u201cHillingdon and Camden will be particularly badly hit. I spoke today with residents of both boroughs who will see homes, open spaces and community facilities destroyed if HS2 goes ahead.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd, according to a new report by the Wildlife Trusts, around 500 wildlife sites \u2013 including 10 Sites of Special Scientific Interest and 150 local wildlife and ancient woodland sites \u2013 will be damaged or destroyed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut the benefits are tenuous too: imagine how many more would benefit it could make if, instead of HS2m, the Government were to bring the railways back into public ownership \u2013 and invest \u00a342bn in their improvement.<\/p>\n

\u201cHS2 will offer an expensive, fast service between London and the Midlands: it national benefits will be minimal. It’ll save a small number of travellers a few minutes on their journeys: a railway for the 1%, not a programme of nationalisation and investment for the 99%.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt should be scrapped.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Plans to build high speed rail link from London to the Midlands are a costly diversion from providing decent public transport services for Londoners, and they will destroy community facilities, homes \u2013 and the environment, according to London’s Green MEP Jean Lambert. As MPs debated whether to go ahead with the \u00a342.6bn plans today, Ms […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":2561,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[963,1044,984,330,92],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n